Disinfection Of Water Supplies Research Articles

Infection Prevention Measures for Service Recipients in Postpartum Care Homes

<p>產後護理之家服務對象，包括產後未滿二個月產婦及出生未滿二個月嬰兒。又嬰兒出生後來自母親的抗體逐漸消退，且免疫力尚未達到成熟階段，感染疾病風險高及可能嚴重併發症，因此對於服務對象入住機構內健康管理、包括疾病監測、疑似感染及適當隔離等，防範於未然及有效感染控制措施至為重要，各項感染管制訂定如：陪住家屬及訪客管理，遵守政府規範防疫政策；服務對象之配膳、飲食衛生、哺餵、哺育器材清消，飲用水衛生安全、供水設施等措施並落實執行，維護產婦、嬰兒及工作人員等之健康，建構優質安全環境，提升照護品質。機構管理者及工作人員應瞭解基本的感染預防及管制策略，確實執行應用，避免機構內感染及群聚事件，且配合衛生主管機關評鑑及感染管制查核督導，強化各項感染管制措施，共築完善防疫網。</p> <p> </p><p>Postpartum care homes provide services to mothers and infants in the first 2 months after birth. During this time, antibodies from the mother gradually diminish in infants, whose immunity is insufficiently mature, placing them at high risk of contracting diseases and developing serious complications. Therefore, adhering to and implementing strict infection control measures is crucial. For service recipients of health management in postpartum homes, infectious disease monitoring, isolation precautions, rules for managing family members and visitors, disease control regulations, meal preparation and feeding hygiene, access to cleaning and disinfection equipment, and regular cleaning and disinfection of water supplies are all critical measures for improving service quality and creating a high-quality and safe care environment. Institutional managers and staff must understand basic infection prevention and control strategies and carefully implement them to avoid infections and cluster incidents in postpartum homes. They must also cooperate with health authorities for institution accreditation, infection control inspection, and supervision to strengthen infection control measures and create comprehensive epidemic prevention strategies.</p> <p> </p>

Cholera outbreak in 2022 among children in Karachi: Study of cases attending to a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Repeated outbreaks of cholera have occurred in Karachi. Changing patterns in seasonality, serotypes and antibiotic resistance have been observed in these outbreaks. Recently, in the year 2022, a surge of cholera cases has been reported from Karachi during the months of April-June. This study aimed to identify clinical features, antibiotic susceptibility, complications, and response to treatment of V. cholerae infection among children attending Indus hospital, Karachi. A retrospective chart review of pediatric patients was conducted for children aged 0-16 years. All children treated for culture-proven cholera infection at Indus Hospital from March to June 2022 were included. Details of clinical features, complications, antibiotic susceptibility, and response to treatment were retrieved from the health management information system (HMIS) of the hospital. Twenty children were included. The median age was 01 (0.50-3.75) years. There were 9 (45%) males and 11 (55%) females. All the culture isolates belonged to serogroup O1 Ogawa of the Vibrio cholerae. Vomiting and diarrhea were the most common symptoms. Dehydration, acute kidney injury, and shock were seen in 19 (95%), 6 (30%), and 2 (10%) children respectively. Eleven children were admitted with an average hospital stay of 5 (Median-IQR 3-6) days. The isolates were completely susceptible to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin. Different antibiotics were given which included cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, doxycycline, and ciprofloxacin. All children responded completely to the antibiotics. In present study all V. cholerae isolates belonged to the O1 Ogawa serotype that showed complete susceptibility to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and renal impairment were the most common complications observed. Drinking unboiled water was identified as a potential source of cholera in most children. Therefore, advocacy of hygienic practices and disinfection of water supplies is recommended to prevent future cholera outbreaks.

Применение дезинфектантов нового поколения в решении современных проблем обеззараживания в водопроводно-канализационном хозяйстве

Purpose: To consider and evaluate alternative methods of water disinfection and disinfection of water supply and sewerage facilities and to select the most effective. To determine the possibility of using several agents at the same time, to select disinfectants with a biodegradable composition, the use of which will help reduce the negative impact on the environment. Methods: Comparison of the composition and effectiveness of existing disinfectants. Results: The necessity of using various combinations of disinfectants to reduce the likelihood of resistance in microorganisms to biocides is indicated. The most promising method for treating structures is the aerosol method, which allows achieving the necessary disinfection effect with small doses of the reagent. The use of multi-component disinfectants (such as the “Silver Bullet” anolyte and biocide) is safe for humans and the environment due to their composition, it also helps prevent microbial habituation to the substances. Practical significance: Due to the conditions of water intake changing for the worse and stricter regulations for the content of harmful substances in drinking water, the use of combined schemes for water disinfection and disinfection of structures has most potetial.

Active chlorine mediated ammonia oxidation revisited: Reaction mechanism, kinetic modelling and implications

Ammonia nitrogen removal from wastewaters has gained much attention in recent decades as a result of the environmental problems associated with discharge of excessive amounts of this critical nutrient including eutrophication of receiving waters, generation of offensive odours as a result of organism decay and complications associated with the disinfection of water supplies. While removal via biological processes represents the principal means by which a reduction in dissolved nitrogen concentrations is achieved, an electrochemical advanced oxidation process has been proposed as a potentially effective alternate means of removing ammonia from wastewaters with the removal associated with the in situ generation of oxidants (particularly active chlorine) at the anode. Here we describe the influence of key factors on the rate and extent of ammonia nitrogen removal in an electrochemical cell with a Ti/IrO2-RuO2 anode and Ti cathode. The rate of ammonia removal was found to be dependent on both current density and initial chloride concentration with ∼95% ammonia removed from a 20 mM Cl− solution within approximately 40 min at a current density of 3 mA cm−2, resulting in an energy consumption of 126 kWh kg−1 NH4+-N. Additionally, we show that by-products formation is effectively suppressed during the electrolysis process. A mechanistically-based kinetic model incorporating the key processes operating in the ammonia electro-oxidation process was developed with particular attention given to (i) anodic generation of active chlorine and other chloride-related by-products, (ii) active chlorine mediated ammonia oxidation. The results demonstrate that the electrochemical advanced oxidation process is a promising technology for treatment of ammonia-containing wastewaters with advantages including simplicity, safety and effectiveness.

Optimization of ultrasound-induced inactivation of model bacterial mixture using response surface methodology

Ultrasound (US)-based disinfection involves the disruption of cell membranes, oxidation of active free radicals, as well as hotspot heating, either individually or in combination. Various factors can affect US efficiency for inactivating microbes. However, only a few studies have discussed the use of US for microbial inactivation via response surface methodology. Here, we evaluated the potential of US for the disinfection of water supply or the elimination of drinking water residues. Moreover, the effects of US inactivation parameters, such as energy density, sonication time, and US device duty cycle on reduction in total bacterial (TB) count and total coliform (TC) count were investigated and optimized. The results indicated that the optimal inactivation condition was achieved at an energy density of 8.30 W/mL, a sonication time of 950 s, and a duty cycle of 0.7:0.3. Under optimal conditions, the experimental values of TB and TC inactivation efficiency were 47.26% ± 4.35% and 39.23% ± 2.27%, respectively, while the predicted values were 46.57% and 38.65%, respectively. The models developed here helped to predict the effectiveness of inactivation efficiency to a ‘sufficiently applicable’ extent. Under the optimized conditions, US has high potential as an effective disinfection method, as shown by energy efficiency analysis.

A GIS-based evaluation of risks due to trihalomethane exposure during showering in coastal Texas

Disinfection of water supplies with chlorine is essential to water treatment, but can lead to the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) in the presence of natural organic matter. Exposure to THMs via inhalation during daily activities such as showering can significantly increase cancer risks. An innovative decision support system was developed for evaluating THM exposure and risks in water supplies in the Gulf Coast region of Texas by combining a shower THM volatilization model, geospatial analysis techniques, and risk assessment methodologies. Based on THM data from fourteen locations in the region, a power-law equation was developed to predict the formation of THMs in groundwater wells. Health risks associated with THMs in the water supplies of the Gulf Coast of Texas were evaluated. Cancer risks were found to vary from 7.14 × 10−7 to 7.75 × 10−6. While two-thirds of the geographical area was below the threshold risk of 1 × 10−6, it accounted for only a tenth of the total population. Metropolitan areas such as Corpus Christi and McAllen, which currently use surface water sources, and Houston, which is seeking alternate water sources due to subsidence issues, were found to have significant cancer risks (in excess of one in a million). A third of the population of Texas is housed in the Gulf Coast region, and with more population migration toward the metropolitan areas, it is recommended that water resource management decisions be made taking into consideration both the quantity and quality of water available.

Drinking water disinfection by-products: an Australian perspective

Disinfection of water supplies is of paramount importance for the prevention of waterborne diseases. Unfortunately, an unwanted side effect is the formation of by-products. Currently, chlorine and monochloramine are the only agents used to disinfect major drinking water supplies in Australia. Historically, some Australian waters have produced high concentrations of disinfection by-products (DBPs) upon chlorination. However, most water authorities in Australia do not routinely monitor DBP concentrations, with only a few analysing for THMs alone. Accordingly, there has been very little information available on the nature, distribution and typical concentrations of DBPs in Australian drinking waters. A number of analytical methods for the determination of DBPs were assessed and an analytical survey of 16 drinking waters from around Australia was conducted to determine their occurrence. Typically, DBP concentrations, with the exception of cyanogen chloride, were lowest in chloraminated waters. The survey revealed that for some waters, chloroacetic acid and chloral hydrate are the DBPs most likely to exceed the 1996 NHMRC Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

Microbial water quality concerns for water supply use

AbstractThe greatest impact of water pollution on public health comes through drinking water, the source of which may be degraded by point and nonpoint pollution sources including municipal wastewater, storm water runoff, agricultural drainage, and food processing. While water treatment technology can successfully process poor quality source waters containing in excess of 2000 fecal coliforms/100 mL to produce potable water that meets the accepted drinking water standards, there is serious concern that the barriers to microbial breakthrough in the finished water may prove to be dangerously thin. Any momentary break in the treatment train could allow substantial levels of microorganisms to enter the final product—potable water.The burden of water quality enhancement should be a shared responsibility among all discharges and downstream users of these irreplaceable resources. Much can be accomplished through the application of a multiple barrier approach in wastewater treatment, controlled storm water releases, and water supply enhancement. Dischargers must seek to minimize pathogen releases, reduce particulate dispersion, and diminish organics in effluents. These factors impact heavily on the effectiveness of wastewater disinfection. Furthermore, with passage downstream to the water intake, these organic residuals may be the precursors of disinfection by‐products created during drinking water treatment. Some water supply operations must revise their treatment practices to provide better protection from the passage of protozoan cysts and enhance the removal of organics before applying disinfection. Disinfection of water supply is critical and will only be consistently effective in a clean processed water.

Present Status of Disinfection of Water Supplies

Present Status of Disinfection of Water Supplies